May sends troops and terror experts to Gulf
THERESA May will today announce a new deployment of British troops and anti-terrorism experts to the Gulf to counter Islamic extremism.
The Prime Minister flew to Bahrain last night on a high-profile visit to strengthen security and build trade links for the UK ahead of the departure from the EU.
And in a sign of her determination to forge a new place in the world, she will be the first British premier to attend a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
At the gathering of leaders from the six Gulf countries in Bahrain, the Prime Minister will announce new co-operation with the Gulf to strengthen airline security, including developing new airport screening systems.
Ahead of the visit, Mrs May said: “Now more than ever, Gulf security is our security. That’s why we are investing in hard power there, with over £3billion of defence over the next decade, spending more in the Gulf than in any other region of the world.
“Through the construction of HMS Juffair, we are creating a permanent naval base in the region, the first such facility east of Suez since 1971.
“We also need to work together to respond to new and diversifying threats. We are agreeing new co-operation to do more to prevent radicalisation and to tackle terrorism.
“I am determined to step up our defence and security partnership to provide greater confidence and stability to the region and to keep our people safe in an ever more dangerous world.”
Mrs May will visit HMS Ocean today at the Khalifa Bin Salman Port in Bahrain.